Attachment to ironing machines



w. A. HQCH 2,196,810

ATTACHMENT TO IRONING MACHINES April 9, 1940.

Filed Jan. 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I1NVENT0R ATTORNEY5 April 9,1940.w A HOCH 2,196,810

ATTACHMENT T0 IRONING MACHINES Filed Jan. 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :fiq. J

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/1 I z c mmm www ff@ I BY w- ATTORNEYS 'Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT T0 IRONING MACHINES Application January17, 1939, Serial No. 251,315

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved attachment to an ironingmachine.

One of the'objects of my invention is to provide a simple attachment formachines which are used for ironing shirts, in order to hold theneckband of the shirt upright and in proper position relative to thebody of the shirt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device for theneckband of a shirt, which will function without springs and which willhave an inherent resilient clamping action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which has anoperating head which is readily accessible, so that the attendant canoperate the device conveniently with one hand.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the followingdescription and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodimentthereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects ofmy invention is intended generally to explain'same without limiting itin any manner.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the attachment in the closed orclamping position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the attachment in the open ornon-clamping position.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation taken at the lefthand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. In this view the knob or head ofthe device has been omitted.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. This shows certaindifferent relative positions of the parts, respectively in full linesand in broken lines.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the device has a base 2 which is providedwith an upstanding integral abutment ange or wall I. Said wall I has areentrant portion Ia, which is spaced from the clamp C, when said clampis in operative position. At its rear, the base is provided with abracket of angular shape, which has upstanding integral ribs 3 and 3a.

An upstanding guide arm 4, having a curved guide slot 5, is providedwith a base I5 which is connected to an upstanding projection of thebase 2 by means of screws 1. The upstanding arm 8 has a base 9 which isconnected to the same upstanding projection of base 2, by` means ofscrews I0. The rib 3 is integral with a xed bearing-sleeve Il. A pin I2passes through said bearing-sleeve II and through second and thirdsleeves I4 and I1. The sleeves I4 and I1 are connected by an integralmember 30. Said member 30 has an integral angular arm 3I which isconnected t5 one end of link 22 by pivot pin 2 Ia. Said member 30 isrecessed adjacent arm 21. I'he second sleeve I4 is integral with a flrstclamparm I5. A second clamp-arm I6 is integral with the third sleeve I1.The pivot pin I2 also pass'es through a fourth sleeve I8, whose functionwill be later described.

The U-clamp C is made of springy steel or other resilient material. Theshape of a portion of said clamp C is substantially the same as theshape of a portion of the abutment wall I, so that slight distortion ofthe resilient clamp C will eifectively clamp the neckband of the shirtagainst abutment wall I. 'I'he other parts of the device are preferablymade of rigid metal, although they may be made of rigid or resilientmaterial of any kind, if desired. The clamp C is rigidly connected tothe forked bottom ends of the arms I5 and I6 by any suitable detachablefastening means, so that clamp C cannot turn relative to arms I5 and I6.The device includes a first arm which consists of two aligned identicalmembers I9, which are connected to each other by means of a 'pivot pin20, whose shank fits closely and slidably in the guide-slot 5.

As shown in Fig. 1, the outer ends of the members I9 of said rst arm areconnected by means of a pivot pin 2| to the link 22. Said pivot pin 2|is connected to said link 22, intermediate the ends of said link. Theupper end of said link 22, referring to Fig. 1, is connected by means ofa pivot pin 23 to the legs 24 of a second and forkshaped arm which haslegs 24, and whose upper integral end is connected by means of a pivotpin 26 to the forked end of an integral extension-arm 21 of the fourthsleeve I8. Said extension or third arm 21 has a threaded shank 28releasably connected thereto, and an operating knob 29 is releasablyconnected to said threaded shank 28. When the device is in theinoperative position shown in Fig. 2, the shank of the pivot pin 20abuts the upper end-wall of the slot 5. The members I9 of the rst arm'are then substantially parallel to the legs 24 of the second arm, sothat the longitudinal axes of said arms are then coincident orsubstantially coincident.

The resilient clamp C is spaced a substantial distance from theupstanding clamping wall or clamping ange I, when the device is in saidinoperative position. The neckband of the shirt can therefore be readilyadjusted so as to abut said wall or ange I.

When the device is in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1, and theclamp C is held stationary relative to the ange I, the third arm 21 andits integral sleeve I8 can be rocked a limited distance relative'to thefixed sleeve II, and the second and third sleeves I4 and I1.4 The firstand second arms I9 and 24 and the link 22 can therefore be turnedthrough a small arc, without shifting the clamp C upwardly relative tothe ange I. 'I 'his explanation is given merely to explain theconnections of the parts, because in actual use, the third arm 21 and.clamp C are Amoved in unison away from the position shown in Fig. l.The operation of the device is as follows: When the parts, are in theposition shown in Fig. 2, and the third arm 21 and its integral sleeveI8 are turned counterclockwise around the axis of pivot member I2, thesecond arm 24 and the link 2 2 exert a thrust upon the angular or fourtharm 3| of the member 30, so that the second.

and third sleeves I4 and I1 are caused to turn in unison with said thirdarm 21. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, it ispossible to turn the second arm 24 relative to the third arm 21, so asto turn the first and second arms I9 and 24 from the position shown inFig. 2. It is thus possible to turn the arm 21 and then to turn theforked end of the link 22 relative to the angular arm 3I, around thepivot 2Ia, so that the arm 21 can be turned counterclockwise while theclamp C is held stationary., However this is stated merely to furtherexplain the relations between the various parts, because in actual usethe combined thrust of the second arm 24 and of the link 22 causes themember 30 and its integral sleeves I4 and I1 to turn in unison with thethird arm 21. During said turning movement, the shank of the pin 20slides in the guide-slot 5, until said shank abuts the bottom end-wallof said guide-slot 5. The clamp C is then inclined about 45 to the base2 and the longitudinal axes of the rst and second arms I9 and 24 arethen inclined to each other at an angle which is a little greater than90. The members I9 of the r'st arm are then inclined upwardly relativeto the horizontal plane.

When the third arm 21 is turned further in the counterclockwisedirection, the members I9 of the rst arm turn clockwise relative to theupstanding guide arm 4 and the angle between the arms I9 and 24 isdecreased. The clamp C first abuts the flange I at two spaced portionsthereof, which are spaced substantially equally from the member 8. 'Iheinitial contacting position of clamp C is shown in full lines in Fig. 5,and the corresponding positions of other parts are also shown in fulllines. In this position the members I9 of the first ar'm aresubstantially horizontal and the longitudinal axis of the second arm 24makes an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the first arm I 9.The upper end of the guide arm 4, including the upper end-portion of theslot 5, is then located above and between the legs 24 of the second arm.In this initial operative position of the clamp, the link 22 is inclinedupwardly, so that its left-hand end is higher than its right-hand end.Downward pressure is then exerted upon the knob 29 so that it is movedfrom the full-line position shown in Fig. to the broken-line positionshown in Fig. 5. The clamp C is then forced from the initial fulllineposition shown in Fig. 5, downwardly to the final clamping broken-lineposition. The members I9 are thus turned until their longitudinal axisis inclined downwardly. The first and second arms I9 and 24 and the link22 are thus locked in closing and clamping position. The angulararm.3land the arms I5 and I6 are thus turned, so that the clamp C ismoved laterally so that said clamp is slightly distorted and it ispressed against substantially the entire adjacent surface of the ange I,save for the reentrant portion Ia. 'I'he rst and second arms I9 and 24and link 22 then act as a self-locking device to hold said parts in thelocked position. It is impossible to turn arms I5 and I6counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 5, save by raising knob29, or by turning the first arm I9 upwardly from the position shown inFig. 5, relative to the axis of member 29. In order to open the device,the knob 29 is raised from the broken-line position shownin Fig. 5 tothe full-line position thereof. This has the effect of first-turning therst arm I9 until its longitudinal axis is inclined upwardly, so thatthearms I5 and I6 are then freely turnable in an upward direction. Thiscan be done by turning the arm 21 clockwise from the position shown inFig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2. n'

It is obvious that the device is extremely simple and durable, that theknob 29 is readily accessible at all times, and that the entire devicecan be manipulated by one hand of the.' attendant. The base 2 issuitably connected to the table of an ironing machine, which is notshown, as said machine is well known per se. 'Ihe drawings aresubstantially to scale. -The device does not include a conventionaltoggle, because the rst and second arms I9 and 24 .are pivoted at spacedpoints to link 22, instead of being pivoted to each other at a commonaxis. However, the device acts to some extent like a self-lockingtoggle, and its action can be designated as a toggle-action.

For convenience in designating the parts in the claims, members I5 andI6 may be designated as holding means for clamp C. Said holding meansturn relative to base 2, around the axis of member I2. Said axis isfixed relative to base 2. While I have shown the various parts connectedto a common base, it would be equivalent to mount said parts on separatesupporting members. Whenever I specify that the clamping device is usedfor holding the neckband ofa shirt in upstanding position, thespecification of such use is not intended to limit the field of use ofthe device.

For convenience in dening the invention,refer ence numerals have beenused in the claims, but without limiting said claims to the preferredembodiment herein.

I claim:

1. A base comprising an upstanding flange, a resilient clamp cooperatingwith said iiange and shaped to clamp an object against said flange, saidclamp being attached to supporting means which are pivoted adjacent toand above the rear portion of said flange, a control arm 21 pivotedsubstantially adjacent the pivotal axis of said supporting means, alever arm 3I operatively associated with said supporting means andextending at a fixed angular relation relative to said supporting means,a first link 22 pivotally connected to said lever arm 3|, a connectinglink 24 pivoted at one point thereof to the first link 22 and pivoted atanother point thereof to said control arm 21, a guide means extendingupwardly from said base and having abutment means below the top thereof,a spacing link I9 pivoted at one point thereof to said first link 22 andhaving a sliding engagement at another point thereof with said guidemeans, the length and arrangement of the parts being such that thecontrol arm 21, when swung away from said base places said first link 22and said connecting link 2l in tension to rotate said supporting meansin the same direction, and when swung towards the base, the said spacinglink I9 slides along said guide means until said spacing link I9 engagessaid abutment means to stop further' sliding movement of said spacinglink i9, and to form a toggle of said first link 22 and said spacinglink I9 to force said clamp into operative engagement with said flange.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said abutment means are thelower end-wall of a slot of said guide means, said slot being alsoclosed at its upper end, said spacing link I9 having a pin which islocated slidably in said slot.

3. A clamping device comprising a member having an upstanding flange, aresilient clamp which is shaped to clamp an object against said flange,said clamp being attached to supporting.

means which are pivoted adjacent to and above the rear portion of saidange, the pivotal axis of said supporting means being located, and saidiiange and clamp being shaped, so that the turning movement of saidsupporting means first brings the spaced points of said clamp intocontact with respective spaced points of said iiange and then moves theclamp laterally and also downwardly relative to said ange.

4. A base comprising an upstanding ange, a resilient clamp cooperatingwith said iiange and adapted to clamp an object against said flange,said clamp being attached to supporting means which are pivoted adjacentto andabove the rear portion of said ange, a control arm 2l pivotedsubstantially adjacent the pivotal ams of the supporting means, a leverarm 3| operatively associated with said supporting arm 21 and extendingat a fixed angular relation relative to said control arm 21, a rst link22 pivotally connected to said lever arm 3l, a connecting link 24pivoted at one point thereof to said iirst link 22 and pivoted atanother point thereof 'to said control arm 21, a. guide means extendingupwardly from said base and having abutment means below the tcp endthereof, a spacing link i9 pivoted at a point thereof to said rst link22 and having sliding engagement at another point thereof with saidguide means, the length and arrangement of the parts being such that thecontrol arm 21, when swung away from said base, places said first link22 and said connecting link 24 in tension to rotate said supportingmeans in the same direction, and when swung toward the base the saidspacing link slides along said guide means until sai/d spacing linkengages said abut ment means to stop further sliding movement and toform a toggle of said irst link 22 and said spacing link 2t to forcesaid clamp into operative engagement with said ange, the lowerend-portion of said guide means being substantially normal to the lineof action of said rst link 22 and of said spacing link id when the clampis in its operative engagement, whereby said first link 22 and saidspacing link i9 then form a self-locking toggle which maintains theclamp in said operative engagement until the control arm is swung awayfrom said base.

'WALTm A. HGCH.

